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This week on the Alabama Freshwater Fishing Report, host Nick Williamschecks in with two Mobile-area anglers who spend a lot of time on the Delta and coastal creeks: Peter Jordan of The Lost Angler Fly Shop and Justin Dunham of Eight Mile Drifter. The conversation ranges from a conservation update tied to Mobile Bay, to how winter water levels and north winds shift fish positioning, to a practical “keep-it-simple” tackle lineup that will catch everything from bass to specks and reds when you slide south of I-10.
Conditions Recap
The big theme this week is change: fronts, wind, and water moving through the system. Early-morning low tides are exposing mud flats, and the guys expect the best window to be when the tide starts rising and warming those flats back up. In the Delta, north winds and incoming river water can muddy things quickly and spread fish out, especially farther north. When that happens, they’re leaning into protected water—back creeks, bayous, and north-end pockets that warm faster during the day—and slowing their presentations down to match cooler water temps.
Mobile Bay Conservation Update With Peter Jordan
Peter recaps a press conference at the Blind Tiger tied to a state-level push to end “mud dumping” and improve how dredge material is handled. The goal is to protect Mobile Bay for fishing, hunting, and the long-term health of the resource—while still supporting responsible commerce. Peter points to successful examples in other states and emphasized how much work has gone into bringing different user groups to the table, including local leaders and conservation-minded organizations like Mobile Baykeeper.
One practical takeaway from the discussion: when dredge material is placed and contained correctly, it can create beneficial breaks from wind and current, protect shorelines from ship wake erosion, and even help promote sea grass growth—turning some of those areas into consistent “better water” options when the main bay looks like milk chocolate.
Delta Bass: Slow, Steady, And Subsurface
On the bass side, Peter describes a winter pattern that’s been strong across the Delta: the vegetation hasn’t fully died off yet in many shallow areas, so baits with vibration that can be worked on a steady retrieve are hard to beat. He likes keeping it subsurface and “slow-rolling” through cover, letting fish key in on the thump and flash instead of trying to burn something past them.
A consistent producer in that mixed fresh-and-salt zone has been the Strike King Redfish Magic. It’s catching bass, redfish, and specks, and it’s a great “one lure” option when you’re not sure what you’ll run into. Peter also recommends swapping spinnerbait blades as the water cools—moving from a willow leaf to a Colorado blade so you can fish slower while staying in the same part of the water column. He specifically mentions liking the smaller profile of a War Eagle finesse-style spinnerbait for these conditions.
For fly anglers, he’s throwing intermediate lines (not a fast sink), focusing on areas that warm fastest, and keeping retrieves steady with vibration-forward patterns. He calls out the “Jordan Swimmin’ Minnow” style as a standout for steady, paddletail-style movement. If you’re tempted to fish topwater on the fly right now, his advice is simple: go weedless, and commit to fishing the heavy vegetation.
Lower Delta Bonus: Reds And Specks On The Rising Tide
If you’re hunting the lower delta in the morning, Peter says it’s worth bringing a rod along. Reds will slide up on the flats, and speckled trout can still be in the mix—especially when there’s less bait in the system than earlier in the season. With fewer “easy meals” around, fish are often more willing to commit to artificials.
His plan centers on two baits and one simple concept: warm flats next to quick access to deeper water. He starts by slow-rolling the Redfish Magic across the bottom, then he’ll work the same area more thoroughly with a Carolina rig and a soft-plastic shrimp. A good match here is a D.O.A. Shrimp (or a scented shrimp-style bait), using about 2.5–3 feet of leader behind the weight. He likes a bead/clacker in the rig because the extra “click” helps fish zone in, and the shrimp tracks more naturally than a straight jigging presentation.
He also mentions a slower winter retrieve in general—think steady movement and bottom contact, not ripping baits through the zone. Suspending jerkbaits get a nod here too because they keep action in place longer and let fish commit without having to chase hard.
Paddle Craft Advantage: Reach The Fish Everyone Else Skips
Peter and Nick both circle back to a theme that’s especially true right now with shallow water: paddle craft opens doors. Whether it’s a canoe, kayak, or skiff you’re willing to push-pole, getting into water that’s too skinny for a trolling motor can be the difference between “nice day” and a real bite. Peter recommends a simple habit for kayak anglers: use your drive to get close, then pull it up, stand, and “paddleboard” into the shallow stuff quietly.
The other benefit is forcing yourself to fish thoroughly. When you can’t just fire up and run, you pay more attention to forage and subtle changes in water color, temperature, and cover. That attention to detail is often what turns a slow winter day into a productive one.
Justin Dunham’s Outlook: Where To Go When The Water Jumps Up
Justin expects higher, muddier water in the upper Delta during the immediate surge, with strong current making the run into some areas a grind. His recommendation for that window is to stay closer to the bay and fish systems that clear quickly after a couple tide flushes—places like Fly Creek and Fowl River. He also suggests putting Lake Shelby (Gulf Shores) on the list this time of year; it’s close to the beach, but it holds quality freshwater fish, including big bass and solid shellcracker. If you want to avoid the worst of the mud and current, he likes this “lower and closer” approach until things settle back down.
Once levels stabilize and drop, he’d slide back north into the Delta again—especially if the water avoids a prolonged flood. His overall theme mirrors Peter’s: fish will tolerate change, but they prefer stability, so plan around the transition windows.
A Simple, General-Purpose Tackle Lineup (Justin’s Picks)
Nick asked Justin for a practical “build a tackle box” answer—something you can keep in a kayak or grab for a quick 45-minute trip and still be ready for bass, reds, and specks. Here’s the streamlined setup Justin recommends, with links to the exact product families mentioned:
Topwater: A subtle walker that won’t blow fish out in calmer conditions—Justin likes the MirrOlure MirrOmullet, and also recommends the MirrOlure Poppa Mullet for a lure that can both pop and walk.
Soft-jerkbait / Fluke-style bait: He’s partial to the durability and scent of Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ (infused with Pro-Cure). For rigging, he calls out Z-Man ChinlockZ SWS style hooks to keep it weightless/weedless and still castable around cover.
“Make anything a spinnerbait” option: If you like the versatility of a Redfish Magic but want modularity, he suggests adding a spinner arm to your jighead. H&H makes a simple option with Colorado blades: H&H Finesse Blades.
Old-school confidence bait: A ribbon-tail worm, Texas-rigged, still catches them when you need a “make it happen” bite—especially in stained water.
Don’t forget scent: Justin also gives a nod to scented baits like Gulp-style options as a steady producer in the mixed-stain water we fish so often down here.
